Hello everyone!

I'm not new to FF but I am new to posting Hey Arnold Stories! This is my first one! Please enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: Arnold my love! Such is fate that I do not own you! (Sighs)

Hey Arnold!

Title: Runaway Heiress

Chapter 1: The Heiress

"So I get home from school and you wouldn't believe it!" Helga said with a cackle as she walked with her best friend Phoebe to the vacant lot.

They, now 12th graders, were supposed to be having a ball game with a few of the new grade 10 students on their vacant lot- Gerald's Field with Arnold and the others.

"What happened?" Phoebe asked straightening her round blue rimmed glasses.

"Olga was home!" Helga said. "But the thing is- she was actually arguing with mom and dad!"

Phoebe gasped. "Arguing? Why?"

Olga Pataki, Helga's older, perfectionist sister had just turned out not to be so perfect to Helga's excitement.

"Well, she's pregnant!" Helga grinned. "For who?" She shrugged. "Nobody knows except Olga and she's not saying. Dad nearly had a cow, I've never seen him so angry."

"Wow, I could only imagine your father's rage," Phoebe frowned. "Olga's not married right?"

"Nope!" Helga folded her arms across her chest. "And here's the thing, Big Bob actually had a man set up to marry Olga. You know one of his business partner's sons or something. It was supposed to create this bond between the beeper company and the Internet mogul company thing."

"You mean World Net?" Phoebe asked. "Big Bob's Beepers was supposed to have like an business agreement made through marriage with World Net International?"

"Darn skippy!" Helga could hardly maintain her joy. "Olga's five month's pregnant! She didn't even tell us she was seeing anyone! We thought she was out in Alaska teaching Inuit children! But comes to show- she actually quit that job after the first semester and was living with a friend in Japan!"

"You're kidding!"

"Nope!" Then Helga stopped, her eyes locked on the one person she'd tormented now for more than ten years. Arnold.

He'd grown so much taller over the years and he was widening in the shoulders. His head was still Football shaped of course but there was a certain balance between his head and body now that hadn't been there when he was a puny primary school student. He still wore that tiny little blue hat to one side of his head but his clothes had changed. He wore black and white converse tennis, slack khaki pants and dark brown shirt.

Brown was a warm color, it suited his personality well because he too had a warm personality. Of course, she thought any color suited him and that was because she was still madly, passionately, obsessively in love with him. But he didn't know that, she wondered if he ever would.

"Helga?"

She shook out of her daze and looked at Phoebe. "What?"

"You didn't finish saying what happened," She smiled and then waved at Gerald who was standing next to Arnold. He too had grown even taller, but his hair was cut a little shorter and he had a fade. He was filling out in the shoulders as well, much more than Arnold.

"I'll tell you after the game," she said.

"Okay! Let's go greet Arnold and Gerald!" Phoebe nearly sped over and Helga covered her soft smile with an annoyed one. It was obvious that Phoebe really wanted to spend some time with her boyfriend.

"Hey Phoebe," Gerald grinned and kissed her cheek gaining a huff from her. He knew she wanted a real kiss but he was still a little uncomfortable kissing her the way they did in private, in public, especially around Arnold and Helga. He leaned down to her ear and promised to kiss her better later. She nodded up at him and held him to that promise.

"Oh hey Phoebe… Helga," Arnold said her name softly trying not to get into an argument with her today.

"Whatever football head," Helga rolled her eyes. "And Gerald what kind of greeting was that? If you were my boyfriend I'd make you answer to Ole Betsy for a lame ass kiss like that!"

Gerald frowned, "Well it's a good thing I ain't your boyfriend, Helga. I actually prefer intelligent, quiet girls like Phoebe not loud annoying-"

He shut up when he heard her growl and yank Arnold's bat from him. "Continue and I'll use your head as a baseball. Now you ladies coming to play or what?" She turned and stalked off with Arnold's lucky bat.

Arnold sighed as he put his hands in his pocket. "I'll go make sure the field's set up right"

"And get your bat from that wild animal," Gerald suggested

"I'll try," He said walking onto the field.

"You know you shouldn't call my best friend a wild animal," Phoebe crossed her arms over her small chest.

"Did I tell you how fly you look today, sweetie?" He gave her a devastating grin. She flushed under his chocolate gaze. She was wearing tight fitted jeans and a sweater that molded to her tiny, lean body. She dressed decently and he loved that about her.

"Don't change the subject," she said softly.

"You have to admit Phoebe, your friend's crazy," Gerald lead her onto the field. "Anyway, at least I didn't call her a wild animal to her face."

"Coz your balls aren't big enough to do so, tall hair boy," Helga came over handing Phoebe a mitt. "You got third base Pheebs."

"And how would you know the size of my-"

"Gerald," Phoebe pulled him away. "Got get ready you're the umpire. We can't start without you." She kissed his cheek and sent him on his way then turned to Helga. "Honestly, you two really should learn to put your differences aside."

"Honestly, you really need to explain to your boyfriend that it's best not to get into a battle of words with me because I'll always win," Helga said. "Now go to your base Phoebe."

"Going!" Phoebe scurried off as Helga went to the pitcher's mound. Usually Harold would pitch but him, Sid and Stinky were in detention for mooning Principal Schwartz, the principal of their senior high school.

The game started soon after, the outcome wasn't shocking. The 12th graders- Arnold's team, pounded the 10th graders

"Good job peoples!" Helga laughed as she pushed a puny tenth grader out of her way. "Come on Pheebs, dad said he had something he wanted to tell me when I get home."

"Com-" Phoebe was about to go when Gerald caught her hand and pulled her against him. His mouth caught onto hers.

Helga's eyes widened and then she turned away. "I'll just let you two have a moment then," Helga said heading for the sideway and leaned up against it. Arnold came and stood beside her but at least a foot of negative space was between them.

"They really like each other, huh Helga?" Arnold asked.

"Yeah and your point?" Helga was throwing the baseball up in the air and catching it.

"No point really, it's just nice knowing they're happy," he said.

"Yeah whatever," Helga looked at her best friend in Gerald's brown arms and felt a sting of jealousy that she tamped down. It was natural to feel a little envious. Her best friend really was happy with Arnold's best friend, too bad she couldn't even get to first base with Arnold. She was just still too afraid to let him see the real her.

Arnold looked at his watch. "You know I think we should let them be together right now," he said.

"Not that it's any of your business but I was telling Phoebe something when I got here and I wanted to finish as we walked home," Helga told him.

"They just- I mean- they don't look like they want to part so soon," Arnold said gently. "I could walk you home and you know you could call her on the phone-"

"If I wanted to talk over the phone-"

"Can't you be a little considerate Helga?" Arnold asked. "Look at them. Does it look like she's ready to go home yet?"

"No but-"

"Come on," He caught the ball out of midair and pocketed it. It was his anyway. Then he took her hand and began to drag her. He was a lot stronger now, much stronger than her.

"Geez Arnoldo! You don't have to get all forceful you know!" She growled and pulled her hand away. "And don't touch me or I'll break your hand off!"

He looked at her. "Come on let's go, it's getting late. I think they're waiting for us to get a clue and leave them."

Helga looked back at Phoebe still in Gerald's arms kissing him passionately. Oh to feel such glorious passion. "Fine," she huffed and walked with him towards the street. "Hey Pheebs, I'm gonna head home now-"

Phoebe pulled from Gerald flushed and red. "Okay I'm com-"

"No you can stay," Helga said. "Arnold and I are gonna go."

"Are you-"

"Yeah!" she waved her best friend off. "I'll call you later you and Gerald have fun." Then she walked away. "Come on Football Head, I don't gat all day."

"Uh see you later Gerald," Arnold said goodbye and walked off with Helga.

Phoebe sighed. "You shoulda let me just tell Helga to go-"

"No," Gerald shook his head. "It's about time she starts learning how to be unselfish. She spends all day with you, all school breaks with you and the most time I get is a few weekends and a few after schools. I'm not complaining but I think the least she can do is give us a little more time together."

Phoebe sighed and watched her best friend, who now wore her hair in a ponytail walked off with her boyfriend's best friend. "I guess you're right. We can finish talking on the phone anyway and I'm sure she doesn't really mind walking home with Arnold."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He put his arms around her tiny waist, pulling her flush against him.

She shrugged. "nothing-"

"Phoebe," he stared down at her with a serious face.

She smiled and put her head on his chest. "Well let's just say I have high doubts Helga's completely averse to spending more time with Arnold. Call it an educated guess."

Gerald let the conversation drop as he held his girlfriend close. "You wanna get some ice cream?"

"Before dinner?"

He grinned. "Okay, you wanna watch me eat ice cream before dinner then?"

"Sure," They laughed as they headed the opposite direction Arnold and Helga had taken.

Helga was kicking a can as she and Arnold headed down the road.

"You should just pick it up and throw it in the garbage," Arnold said. He hated litter.

"Don't tell me what to do Hairboy," Helga said still kicking the can. "If you got a problem, you pick it-"

He bent and took the can just as her leg came up to kick it, he caught her ankle and she fell on her backside.

"Ouch!" She frowned at him, he still held her foot.

"Sorry, I just really hate can kicking." He said pulling her up on to her feet, finding a garbage bin and throwing it in.

"You never kicked a can before?" She asked.

"Yeah but I think I've grown out of it," He said.

"Like you grew out of your skirt?" Helga smirked at him.

"Skirt?" He frowned confused.

She rolled her eyes. "You use to wear two shirts and the-"

"Oh I remember now," He chuckled warmly at the memory. "You still wear that pink bow I see."

She put her hand to it. She'd never tell him why she still wore it. She'd never tell him that the reason she wore it every day was because he'd told her he liked it when they were in Preschool. It was the first time they'd met, she'd never forget it.

"Yeah and what of it?" she scowled. "You don't see me mentioning that hat that continues to shrink- no it doesn't shrink your head just gets bigger."

"My parents gave me this hat," He told her. Secretly he was pleased they weren't arguing or anything. He actually liked the pace their conversation was going. It was leisurely and pleasant actually. "It means a lot to me."

"As if I wanted to know," She said folding her arms under her chest. If only she knew that by doing that, she'd sent his attention straight to her breasts that filled out her T-shirt perfectly. He wasn't a pervert or anything but any guy could tell that Helga G. Pataki had a nice large rack.

He moved his eyes off of her chest and took a deep breath. He was slightly aroused by the sight of her. She was tall and lean and curvy in the right areas. When she'd gone to bat and he'd taken Gerald's place as umpire he had briefly noted the sweet curve of her behind. And when she hit the ball on the first pitch he'd watched her run, her body was strong and powerful.

"I read in the paper's your dad's business could go under in a few months," Arnold said abruptly changing the subject. He needed a serious topic so his mind wouldn't stray to lewd thoughts and imaginings of Helga's wonderfully developing body. "Is everything okay? Some business agreement is about to be called off-"

She shrugged. "If you want to feed this story to the papers I want 75% of the money they'll give you for it. I want a contract written up before I divulge any information about my dad's company."

"If it's a private matter we could forget I even brought it up," Arnold said. "I was just a little concerned."

"Why?" Helga asked. "It's none of your business what happens if Big Bob's Beepers gets shut down."

"Your right I guess," He said. "I just was curious- sorry I brought it up."

"I mean so what if Olga was dad's perfect little heiress and was supposed to inherit the company upon his death and now that she's screwed up by getting herself screwed up the company's gonna bankrupt and fail."

"Your sister's pregnant?" Arnold stopped at that revelation.

"Five fricken months," Helga smirked. "Dad was so pissed and Olga- I've never seen her so angry at our parents. I think they want her to get an abortion and Olga's completely against it."

"Well yeah- I mean- I guess it should be her decision." Arnold said. "You think she should keep it?"

Helga thought about it. "Yeah I mean, regardless of what others may think it's still a life that's growing in her and it'd be wrong to cut the life short when it hasn't even really begun yet. Who knows Olga's baby could be the one that cures AIDS or some other presently un-curable disease."

He liked the thought that she was against abortion and it was obvious that she felt very strongly about the situation. It was really nice seeing her in this light, why hadn't he seen her this way a long time ago?

"Anyway, so because Olga doesn't want to get the abortion, dad's threatened to disown her. Mom's a mess- of course Miriam's always been a mess but she's worst now because of the situation. It's really something," Helga said as they turned a corner. "I mean all these years I hated Olga because she seemed so perfect, like she could do nothing wrong and then- she goes an gets herself pregnant for some scumbag we don't know and she quit her job as a teacher."

He couldn't help staring at Helga. She looked so pleased and radiant that her sister was having such a hard time. He no longer had to wonder why. It's obvious that Helga was just happy to know that her sister could actually make mistakes as well. Then he stopped in his tracks. Helga looked at him from over her shoulder and he felt his body stiffen a little at the sight but he tamped the feeling down.

"What's the matter, Arnold?" She stared at him.

"Your older sister was your dad's heiress right?" Arnold asked.

"Yeah," She nodded. "She messed up and I think he's going to disown her. He had plans for her to marry the eldest son of his big time business partner to create some sort of agreement but she's pregnant and so she's no good as dad's heiress."

He frowned at her then. "So you've come to terms with what's gonna happen?"

Confused she gawked at him. "What are you talking about, Arnoldo?"

"I may not know a lot about business and stuff but if Olga was your dad's heiress and she's gonna get disowned then that leaves me to think your next in line as the new heiress of Big Bob's Beepers." Arnold said.

She was still confused. "What are you getting at?"

He sighed exasperatedly. "Helga if the purpose of Olga being your dad's heiress was to marry to create a stronger union in the telecommunications world with her being disowned, you'll be the new heiress meaning you'll be the one marrying the eldest son of your father's business partner instead of her."

Helga froze at the realization. Her entire world stopped and seemed to teeter off its axis. No. It- it couldn't be. She shook her head and then laughed. "Are you kidding me?"

"What? It makes sense doesn't it?"

She laughed even harder. "Arnold, Arnold, Arnold," she inhaled after a moment. "Your theory does make sense, a whole lot of sense but there's one flaw."

"What's that?" He asked secretly hopeful that the flaw was a very big one and she wouldn't have to marry as a means to an end.

"My dad has never really cared about me, actually my entire family never really cared about me," she said. "My dad never remembers my name. My mom hardly remembers anything. What makes you think they are suddenly gonna remember me and make me Heiress of Big Bob's Beepers?"

He sighed the flaw wasn't as big as he'd hoped. Actually it wasn't big at all. "Helga, if your family is how you say they are then you haven't been of much importance to them."

"That's right."

"Until now," He continued. "You'll be more important now that your sister has more than likely ruined her chances at being Heiress. You'll be important as the Heiress of your dad's company. All you'd have to do is marry the guy and then your father will train your husband how to run the company. After you marry the guy, you won't be of much importance to them anymore- you'll just be the one that solidifies their business arrangement through marriage."

He was right. Helga inhaled deeply and then shrugged her shoulders coming quickly to the realization that what he said could possibly happen. Her dad needed an Heiress to continue on the company after him, with Olga possibly disowned, Helga would be the next in line. She- she should've been happy. At least she'd have a very important task to fulfill, at least her family would finally recognize her a little. She could be important now but then… she looked at Arnold who was staring down at the pavement.

If she became heiress she'd forfeit the one guy she loved all her life. If she wasn't made of sterner stuff she would've swooned. Fortunately, she was so she inhaled and shrugged any sad feelings off for the time being. She didn't need Arnold feeling sorry for her.

"Well if that happens then good," Helga replied as she continued to walk.

"Good?"

"I know my responsibilities." She said. "I'm the daughter of a business mogul. As his daughter, I know what I have to do and I accept my fate as it is-"

"So you're gonna marry some guy you probably don't know just so two companies could join? What about marrying for love?"

"Love?" Helga scoffed. "Arnold there's no love in the world of business. That's a fact-"

"So you're just gonna marry some guy you don't know?"

Helga's eyes lit on him and she could see all the concern he felt upon his expressive football shaped face. She wished she could smooth away his worry but that would be completely against her character so she frowned.

"Listen Arnoldo, my life has nothing to do with you!" She shouted. "Geez, do you think you can fix everything? Well Arnold here's the thing you can't! There will be things in life you'll never understand like me marrying some guy my father wants me to marry to ensure a business deal but guess what! It's not your freakin business what I do so stay the hell out of my life!"

Then in a feigned huff, Helga opened the door to her house walked in and slammed the door only to lean up against it, a sad look upon her face and tears brimming in her eyes.

Everything had been going just fine as they walked home. She hadn't really said anything bad or out of the way to him, they actually had a good conversation and then the end came and she blew up at him.

Groaning she sank to the floor. "I'm such a mess,"

Okay so that's the first chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Your feedback is most welcomed and appreciated.

Inuluver1990